Pump style dispense mechanism for flowable product packaging

ABSTRACT

A dispenser includes a body having a an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first chamber, a first opening in fluid communication with the first chamber and extending through the body, a second opening in fluid communication with the first chamber and extending through the body, a first valve and a second valve disposed on the body, the valves having a closed and an open configuration, and an actuator disposed at least partially within the first chamber. The actuator may be configured to increase and decrease pressure in the first chamber such that the first valve and the second valve change from their respective closed configurations to their respective open configurations and from their respective open configurations to their respective closed configurations. When in the closed configuration, flow through the valves is impeded.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/473,840, filed Mar. 20, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No.62/509,982, filed May 23, 2017, the entireties of which are incorporatedherein for any and all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to devices and methods of dispensing afluid, and more particularly relates to valve assemblies for dispensingliquids from liquid sources.

BACKGROUND

Flowable products like wine, juice, condiments and liquid chemicalproducts, such as detergents have been dispensed from flexible pouchesand are widely known as “bag in box” products. These products rely ontypical gravity flow taps located in the bottom of the bag or pouch thatis positioned in a box container. A number of undesirable issues occurwith such dispensing of liquids using gravity flow that include productremaining in the pouch due to lack of head pressure or inability of thepouch packaging material to collapse around the product as it is beingdrained from the pouch. Also, the dispensing tap must be placed at thebottom of the pouch to drain the pouch completely. Further, as liquid isdispensed from the pouch flow becomes slower particularly, when thepouch is about empty. By having to position the dispensing tap at thebottom of the container containing the pouch, a wine glass, for example,has to be placed below the container which under a number of conditionsis cumbersome and consumes space that might otherwise be used; forexample, the box or carton must be placed at the edge of a table orcounter top or the carton is elevated by hand over the glass using thepersons free hand to manipulate the gravity dispense tap.

It would be desirable to have a fluid dispensing system wherein the tapcould be positioned anywhere on the pouch such as the top or side of thepouch so that a variety of configurations could be used and still drainthe pouch completely and wherein flow would be at a continuous rate evenwhen the pouch is close to being empty thereby allowing the pouch orcarton containing the pouch to be placed anywhere on a table orcountertop without the need for elevating the carton over the glass orcontainer while still having the ability to have the glass directlyunder the dispense tap. The unique pump evacuation system of thisinvention obviates the above problems with gravity fed pouches that arein a box or as stand-alone pouches.

SUMMARY

A dispenser according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a bodyhaving a an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a firstchamber; a first opening extending through the body between the exteriorsurface and the interior surface, the first opening being in fluidcommunication with the first chamber; a second opening extending throughthe body between the exterior surface and the interior surface, thesecond opening being in fluid communication with the first chamber; afirst valve disposed on the body, the first valve having a closedconfiguration and an open configuration; a second valve disposed on thebody, the second valve having a closed configuration and an openconfiguration; and an actuator disposed at least partially within thefirst chamber. The actuator may be configured to operatively increaseand decrease pressure in the first chamber such that the first valve andthe second valve change from their respective closed configurations totheir respective open configurations and from their respective openconfigurations to their respective closed configurations. When the firstvalve is in the closed configuration, the first opening may besubstantially impeded such that fluid does not pass through the firstopening, and when the first valve is in the open configurations, thefirst opening may substantially unimpeded such that the fluid can passthrough the first opening. When the second valve is in the closedconfiguration, the second opening may be substantially impeded such thatfluid does not pass through the second opening, and when the secondvalve is in the open configurations, the second opening may besubstantially unimpeded such that the fluid can pass through the secondopening.

According to another embodiment, a method of dispensing a fluid from adispenser includes moving an actuator disposed at least partly in afirst chamber in a first direction, such that the fluid moves through afirst opening into the first chamber and moving the actuator in a seconddirection opposite the first direction, such that the fluid moves out ofthe first chamber through a second opening. The dispenser may have abody with an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a firstchamber.

A container assembly or a liquid evacuation system for flexible pouchescontaining liquids comprising a flexible pouch for holding liquids, aspout attached to the pouch for removing liquid from the pouch in anyposition such as the top, bottom or side of the pouch whereby the liquidcan be drained from the pouch under controlled conditions and the pouchcan be drained completely of liquid wherein a mechanical pumpingmechanism is positioned in relation to the spout for removal of liquidfrom the pouch and a tap that is positioned in relation to themechanical pumping mechanism to dispense liquid into a container onactivation of the mechanical pumping mechanism and wherein the pumpingmechanism comprises a diaphragm pump or a piston dispensing pump.

A dispenser for dispensing liquids according to one aspect of thisdisclosure includes a dispenser body having an outer surface and aninner surface, the inner surface defining a first chamber; a plungerslidably positioned within the first chamber such that at least aportion of the plunger slidably contacts the inner surface of thedispenser body; a first valve configured to allow a liquid to flow intothe first chamber; and a second valve configured to allow a liquid toflow out of the first chamber; wherein the first valve is configured toopen when the plunger moves in a direction away from the first valve;and wherein the second valve is configured to open when the plungermoves in a direction toward the first valve.

In some embodiments, the first valve and the second valve may be one-wayvalves configured to permit flow of liquid in a first direction andresist flow of liquid in a second direction opposite the firstdirection. The dispenser may further include a sealing member configuredto contact a portion of the inner surface and a portion of the plunger.In some embodiments, the sealing member may be an O-ring. In otherembodiments, the sealing member may be a wiper seal. The dispenser mayfurther include a handle attached to the plunger. The dispenser mayfurther include an inlet through which liquid enters the first chamberand an outlet through which liquid exits the first chamber. In someembodiments, the first valve may be disposed at least partially withinor on the inlet and the second valve may be disposed at least partiallywithin or on the outlet. The dispenser may further include a secondchamber in fluid connection with the outlet, such that when liquid ismoved from the first chamber out through the outlet, the liquid entersthe second chamber. The dispenser may further include a spout on thesecond chamber. The spout may be configured to permit liquid to movefrom the second chamber out of the dispenser.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of dispensing afluid includes the steps of: moving a fluid into a chamber, the chamberbeing defined by an internal surface of a dispenser and pushing aplunger positioned within the chamber in a first direction such that thevolume of the chamber decreases as the plunger moves.

In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of movingthe plunger in a second direction opposite the first direction, whereinmoving the plunger in the second direction moves the fluid through anoutlet positioned on the dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application is further understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the subjectmatter, there are shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments of thesubject matter; however, the presently disclosed subject matter is notlimited to the specific methods, devices, and systems disclosed.Furthermore, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a dispenser according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a different isometric view of the dispenser of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top-down cross-sectional view of a dispenseraccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a dispenser accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a different side cross-sectional view of thedispenser of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a dispenser during fluidmoving into the first chamber according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 6during fluid moving out of the first chamber according to an embodimentof the disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a dispenser accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

Aspects of the disclosure will now be described in detail with referenceto the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elementsthroughout, unless specified otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Aspects of the disclosure will now be described in detail with referenceto the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elementsthroughout, unless specified otherwise. Certain terminology is used inthe following description for convenience only and is not limiting.

Certain terminology is used in the description for convenience only andis not limiting. The words “proximal” and “distal” generally refer topositions or directions toward and away from, respectively, anindividual using the mixing system. The words “axial”, “vertical”,“transverse”, “left”, “right”, “above,” and “below” designate directionsin the drawings to which reference is made. The term “substantially” isintended to mean considerable in extent or largely but not necessarilywholly that which is specified. The terminology includes theabove-listed words, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

The term “plurality,” as used herein, means more than one. The singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference, and referenceto a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value,unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, areference to “a material” is a reference to at least one of suchmaterials and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, andso forth.

The invention is directed to a container assembly for dispensing liquidsfrom a pouch and to a liquid evacuation system for flexible pouchescontaining flowable liquids. A variety of pouch designs can be used. Thepouch design that is of particular interest is a flexible bag in a boxwherein a flexible bag or pouch is positioned in a box or othercontainer to hold the bag. Such a bag in a box is currently used forwines and juices of various types. However, other liquids, such asliquid soaps, cleaning agents, oils, ointments and cosmetics can bedispensed from flexible pouches and in a bag in a box configuration.Also, a free standing flexible pouch can be used without a box or othersupporting means. Other flexible pouch designs and containers andsupports also may be used.

Typically, a flexible bag in a box configuration comprises a flexiblebag positioned in a box or other holder configuration. A spout isattached to the bag through a hole in the box or container to allow flowof liquid from the pouch. Currently, with such a configuration, thedispensing of liquid through the tap is made possible by gravity flowfrom the pouch into a container which requires the spout to bepositioned at or near the bottom of the flexible bag and box. Thisresults in a number of problems. There must be sufficient room below thepouch to place the container to receive the liquid being dispensed andthis may be inconvenient depending on available space available. Undersome circumstances it may be very desirable to place the spout at thetop or side of the container which would not be possible when a gravityfeed is used. Also, there are often problems with complete collapse ofthe flexible bag to create an equilibrium between the outside pouchpressure and inside the pouch pressure resulting in a diminished orcomplete stoppage of liquid flow. The result is that the pouch must betaken out of the box and cut open or squeezed to extract the retainedcontents of liquid. Further, as less liquid is in the bag, flow of theliquid by force of gravity becomes slower. Also, there is not aconvenient method to dispense exact amounts of liquid to each container,for example, it is difficult to dispense the identical amount of wineinto each glass. By using a pumping system of this disclosure, the aboveproblems are readily avoided and accurate metering of liquids can beachieved by sizing the dispensing part of the mechanical pumping to adesired amount of fluid.

The liquid evacuation system of this invention for liquid containingflexible pouches comprising a spout attached to the flexible pouch inany position whereby the liquid can be drained from the pouch undercontrolled conditions and the pouch can be drained completely of liquid.This is accomplished by a mechanical pumping mechanism that ispositioned in relation to the spout and can be positioned in the spoutitself if desired. When the mechanical pumping mechanism is activated,liquid is pumped from the pouch into a container. There are no problemswith pumping all of the liquid from the pouch and completely emptyingthe pouch as a vacuum is created by pulling the liquid out of the pouchand creating a condition wherein as the flexile pouch collapses aroundthe liquid, the liquid is completely evacuated from the pouch. In theevent there is a problem with the removal of all of the liquid from thepouch, a helical coil or dip strip can be inserted into the pouch. Thepumping mechanism can be positioned at any place on the pouch and is notlimited to the bottom of the pouch as with the current gravity feedpouches. This allows placement of the pouch in a variety of positionsand allows, for example, filling of a container with liquid from the topof the pouch which could not be accomplished with the current gravityfeed dispensing of liquids. Further, the pump would allow liquids toflow at a constant rate since the pump dispenses liquid at a constantrate and the liquid would not flow slower as the pouch is emptied asoccurs with a gravity feed. Also, a pump can be controlled to dispense acertain amount of liquid, for example, 6 oz. of soda or beer and 2 oz.of liquor and the like. Also, exact amounts of liquid chemicals can bedispensed, for example, cleaning liquids, solvents, oils and the like.Pumping mechanisms that can be used in this invention comprise diaphragmpumps or a piston pump but are not limited to such pumping mechanisms.The pumping mechanism can be activated by a motor to automaticallydispense an exact amount of liquid desired.

An embodiment of a dispenser includes a cap fixedly attached to adispenser body. The dispenser body has an outer surface and an innersurface, the inner surface defining a first chamber and a secondchamber, the first and second chambers being separated by a barrier. Thedispenser includes a plunger within the inner surface of the dispenserbody, the plunger extending through the barrier such that at least aportion of the plunger is in the first chamber and a portion of theplunger is in the second chamber. The plunger may have a plunger sealslidably contacting the inner surface of the dispenser body within oneof the first chamber or the second chamber. The plunger seal may includea first valve extending through the plunger seal. The first valve may bea one-way check valve. The first valve may be configured to open when aforce threshold is surpassed. The plunger may have a pull tab attachedto it and configured to longitudinally translate the plunger in a firstdirection or a second direction while the plunger is within thedispenser body. The pull tab may be operatively connected to a spring.The spring may contact the cap such that when the pull tab is moved in afirst direction it applies a force on the spring, and the spring appliesa force on the cap as the spring compresses. The dispenser body may alsoinclude an outlet nozzle connecting the outer surface of the dispenserbody with the inner surface. The outlet nozzle may have an outlet nozzlecap and an outlet nozzle cap seal. The outlet nozzle may be positionedsuch that the outer surface is connected to the inner surface of thefirst chamber or the second chamber. The dispenser may also include acover at the opposite end of the dispenser body from the cap. The covermay include a second valve. The second valve may be a one-way valve. Thesecond valve may open when a force threshold is surpassed.

In some embodiments, the dispenser may have a body with an inlet, anoutlet, and an internal surface. The internal surface defines a chamberconfigured to receive and hold a fluid. An actuator in the form of aplunger is positioned in the chamber and is configured to slide withinthe chamber. While the exemplary embodiments describe the actuator as aplunger, it will be understood that other actuating mechanisms can alsobe used, for example, push-buttons, levers, or other suitable actuatingdevices. The plunger may contact the internal surface of the body suchthat it creates a barrier that prevents fluid from passing behind theplunger.

The plunger may include a plunger valve. The plunger valve may be aone-way valve configured to allow fluid to pass through the plunger in afirst direction while resisting passage of fluid in a second direction.In some embodiments, the plunger may include a plurality of plungervalves.

The outlet of the dispenser may include an outlet valve. The outletvalve may be a one-way valve configured to allow fluid to pass throughthe outlet in a first direction while resisting passage of fluid in asecond direction. The outlet valve may be configured to open when anoutlet threshold pressure value within the chamber is surpassed. Theoutlet valve may include a spring element attached to it. If the outletthreshold pressure is surpassed, the spring element compresses and opensthe outlet valve to allow fluid to pass through the outlet in the firstdirection. When the pressure in the chamber decreases to less than thethreshold pressure value, the spring element decompresses, thus closingthe outlet valve and inhibiting fluid flow through the outlet.

The chamber in the dispenser may include a first portion and a secondportion, the first and second portions being separated by the plunger.Fluid enters the dispenser through the inlet and into the first portionof the chamber. As the plunger moves in the first direction, the volumeof the first portion decreases and the pressure increases. Once achamber threshold pressure value is surpassed, the plunger valve opensand allows fluid to flow from the first portion of the chamber into thesecond portion.

In operation, the pull tab is forcefully moved in the direction of thecap such that the spring positioned between the pull tab and the cap iscompressed. In some embodiments, the pull tab may be fixedly attached tothe plunger, such that when the pull tab is moved the plunger is alsomoved. When the plunger moves, the plunger seal connected to the plungerslides along the inner surface of the dispenser body. In someembodiments, the pull tab can slide only within the first chamber whilethe plunger seal can slide only within the second chamber. The plungerextends through the barrier between the first chamber and the secondchamber and connects the pull tab and the plunger seal. As the plungermoves in a direction towards the cap, the plunger seal moves away fromthe cover and defines a fill chamber. The movement of the plunger sealaway from the cover creates a pressure differential within the fillchamber. The pressure differential causes the second nozzle in the coverto open and allow fluid to pass through it into the fill chamber. Whenthe pull tab no longer has a force acting on it in the direction of thecap, the compressed spring between the cap and the pull tab decompressesand thus pushes the pull tab connected to the plunger, which isconnected to the plunger seal the a direction opposite the firstdirection such that the plunger seal moves towards the cover. Themovement of the plunger seal toward the cover decreases the volume ofthe fill chamber that contains fluid. The increase in pressure causesthe first valve in the plunger seal to open and allow the fluid to passthrough. The fluid passes from the fill chamber to the second chamber.When the pull tab is actuated in the first direction toward the capagain, the plunger seal applies a pressure on the fluid within thesecond chamber. This pressure causes the outlet nozzle to open and allowthe fluid to exit the dispenser.

In other embodiments, the dispenser body may have an outer surface andan inner surface defining a first chamber. A plunger slidably contactsthe inner surface of the dispenser body such that fluid substantiallycannot pass between the plunger and the inner surface. The plunger mayhave a handle fixedly attached to it. The dispenser body may have anopening connecting the outer surface with the inner surface, the plungerbeing slidable within the opening. The dispenser body may include acover having a first valve and a seal. The valve may be a one-way valve.The dispenser body may include a second valve. The second valve may be acheck valve. The body may include a plug that is removable from thedispenser body. The plug is positioned within a bore in the dispenserbody that extends from the outer surface through the dispenser body intothe inner surface. When the plug is removed from the bore, fluid that iswithin the first chamber may pass through the bore. The dispenser bodymay include an outlet passage being defined partly by the inner surfaceof the dispenser body and partly by a sidewall within the chamber. Thesidewall prevents fluid communication between the outlet passage and thefirst chamber. The sidewall may have an aperture that extendstherethrough such that the outlet passage and the first chamber are influid communication. The second valve may be positioned within theaperture.

In operation, the handle may receive a force acting in a firstlongitudinal direction or a second longitudinal direction, the first andsecond longitudinal direction being opposite one another. The firstlongitudinal direction may be in a direction away from the cover, andthe second longitudinal direction may be in a direction toward thecover. When the handle is moved in the first longitudinal direction, theplunger that is fixedly attached to the handle also moves. As theplunger slides within the chamber of the dispenser body, a negativepressure differential is created within the first chamber. Thisdifferential causes the first valve in the cover to open and allow entryof a fluid into the first chamber. When the handle is actuated in thesecond direction toward the cover, the plunger also slides within thechamber in the second direction. This movement creates a positivepressure differential within the first chamber that is filled withfluid. Added pressure within the first chamber causes the second valveto open and allow fluid to pass through it from the first chamber intothe outlet passage. From there, fluid may be dispensed out of thedispenser.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the dispenser may havea fluid source fluidly connected to the first valve such that when thefirst valve opens, fluid enters the first chamber. In some embodiments,the pressure within the fluid source is greater than the pressure withinthe first chamber when the plunger is moved away from the cover at leasta set distance.

In some embodiments, the dispenser includes a spring element. The springmay be within the dispenser body. In some embodiments, the spring ispositioned between the handle and the plunger seal. In some embodiments,the spring is positioned within or around the plunger. When the plungeris moved in a first direction, the spring gets compressed. Force may beapplied to the plunger to move it in the first direction and compressthe spring. Depending on the characteristics of the spring, the forceapplied may need to surpass a set threshold to compress the spring. Whenthe force is below the threshold, the spring is uncompressed. When aforce is applied greater than the threshold force, the springcompresses, and when the force is decreased to below the thresholdforce, the spring decompresses. As the spring decompresses, it exerts aforce on the plunger and moves the plunger in a second directionopposite the first.

The spring element may have various characteristics. In someembodiments, the spring may include plastic, metal, a combination ofplastic and metal, or another suitable material. The spring element maybe a unitary spring or it may be a combination of individual parts. Insome embodiments, the spring element may include individual parts ofdifferent materials and structure.

In some embodiments, a dispenser can be composed of various materials. Adispenser can comprise plastic, metal, rubber, a combination of plastic,metal and rubber, metal, or another suitable material. In someembodiments, multiple materials may be used for various components. Somesuitable materials include, but are not limited to, silicone,polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyether ether ketone. The plunger maycomprise polypropylene, the spring element may comprise polyether etherketone, the dispenser body may comprise polyethylene, and the cover sealmay comprise silicone. It will be understood that such an embodiment isnot limiting, and other combinations of materials may be suitably used.

Materials used for various embodiments may include recyclable plastics,such as polyethylene, polypropylene and a variety of copolymers thereof.The materials may also be recycled after the dispenser and relatedproducts are no longer in use. With some embodiments, it may not bepractical to reuse such a system since the costs involved in cleaningare expensive and high and results cannot be guaranteed.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, in some embodiments, a dispenser 100 may includea body 102 having a distal end 112 and a proximal end 114. The body 102may be substantially cylindrical. In some embodiments, the body 102 maybe an elliptical prism, a rectangular prism, or another suitable shape.It will be understood that the body 102, as well as other componentsdescribed herein, are scalable and can be designed to have particularshapes and dimensions that are suitable to achieve proper function ofthe dispenser 100, and that this disclosure is not limited to the shapesof the illustrative embodiments of the Figures.

The body 102 includes an outer surface 104 and an inner surface 106 thatdefines an interior portion of the body 102, at least a part of whichmay be hollow. Referring to the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 1-8,the inner surface 106 may define a first chamber 120 disposed within ahollow portion of the body 102. The body 102 may be manufactured as asingular integral piece, or, alternatively, it may be composed ofseparately manufactured components such that it may receive fluidwithout undesirable leakage or damage.

The outer surface 104 may define one or more openings 108,110 thatextend from the outer surface 104 to the inner surface 106. The openings108,110 may be configured to fluidly communicate with the first chamber120. In some embodiments, the openings 108,110 may be operatively openedand closed such that communication may be permitted or blocked,respectively, between the first chamber 120 and the environment externalto the body 102.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, the body 102 mayinclude a first opening 108 and a second opening 110 spaced apart fromthe first opening 108. The first and second openings 108,110 may extendthrough from the outer surface 104 to the inner surface 106 through thebody 102 such that the first and second openings fluidly communicatewith the first chamber 120. In some embodiments, the first and secondopenings 108,110 may be disposed adjacent one another. Alternatively,the openings may be disposed on different portions of the body 102. Insome embodiments, the first opening 108 may be disposed on or adjacentto the distal end 112 of the body 102. The second opening 110 may bedisposed on or adjacent to the proximal end 114 of the body 102.

In some embodiments, the first and second openings 108,110 maycommunicate directly with the first chamber 120. Alternatively, thedispenser 100 may include one or more intermediate passages or chambers142 disposed between the one or more openings and the first chamber 120.Referring to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, an intermediate passage142 may be disposed between the second opening 110 and the first chamber120. In some embodiments, a plurality of intermediate passages 142 mayexist. The intermediate passage 142 may be configured to carry a liquidfrom the first opening 108 to the first chamber 120, from the firstchamber 120 to the second opening 110, from the first chamber 120 toanother intermediate chamber 142, or between two or more othercomponents of the dispenser 100. The first opening 108 may extendthrough the outer surface 104 and communicate with the first chamber120, and the second opening 110 may extend from the first chamber 120 tothe intermediate passage 142.

In some embodiments, the intermediate chamber 142 may include a fluidpassage external to the dispenser body 102, for example, a tube (notshown) configured to move liquid from a liquid source to the dispenser100 or from the dispenser 100 to a liquid destination. The openings108,110 and/or the intermediate chambers 142 may be configured to engagewith an additional component for introducing fluid into the dispenser100 or moving fluid to a fluid destination from the dispenser 100, forexample, an intermediate chamber 142 or a spout 144.

The intermediate chamber 142 may be separated from the first chamber 120by at least one partition. Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, theintermediate chamber 142 may fluidly communicate with the second opening110. Liquid flowing out of the first chamber 120 may enter theintermediate chamber 142.

The dispenser 100 may further include a plunger 130 disposed at leastpartially within the first chamber 120. The plunger 130 may include aplunger head 132 disposed on the plunger 130. The plunger 130 may beconfigured to slidably move within the first chamber 120. The plunger130 may contact the inner surface 106 of the body 102 when it is insidethe first chamber 120. Referring still to FIGS. 1-8, the plunger head132 may sealably contact the inner surface 106 such that liquid issubstantially prevented from moving past or through the plunger head 132and the plunger 130.

In some embodiments, the plunger 130 may include a spring member 136.The spring member 136 may be disposed on or in the plunger 130. Thespring member 136 may be on a portion of the plunger within the firstchamber or on a portion of the plunger outside of the first chamber. Insome embodiments, the spring member 136 may be biased to apply force onthe plunger in a first direction toward the first opening 108. Inanother embodiment, the spring member 136 may be biased to apply forceon the plunger in a second direction opposite the first direction. Thespring member 136 may be any suitable structure that is configured toflex in at least one direction and store potential energy such thatenergy is released as the structure un-flexes, such as, but not limitedto, a helical spring, an elastic material, or a memory shape alloy. Insome embodiments, the spring member 136 may be helical, corrugated, oranother suitable shape.

In some embodiments, the plunger 130 may include a sealing member 134.The sealing member 134 may be disposed on the plunger head 132. Thesealing member 134 may be configured to move with the plunger 130 andslidably contact the inner surface 106. In a preferred embodiment, thesealing member 134 substantially prevents movement of liquid around it,such that a liquid-tight seal is created and one side of the sealingmember 134 contacts the liquid while the opposite side remains free fromcontact with the liquid. In some embodiments, the sealing member 134includes an O-ring. The O-ring may include any suitable material asunderstood in the art, for example, rubber, silicone, or plastic. Insome embodiments, the sealing member 134 may be a wiper seal. Thesealing member 134 may be integrated into the plunger 130 itself, forexample, into the plunger head 132, or the sealing member 134 may be aseparate component configured to engage with the plunger 130.

The dispenser 100 may include a plurality of plungers 130. In someembodiments, the first chamber 120 may be divided into a first portionand a second portion, each portion including a separate plunger 130. Insuch embodiments, the plungers 130 may be fixedly attached to oneanother such that they may be actuated simultaneously. It will beunderstood that the sizes, dimensions, and functionalities may differbetween individual plungers 130.

The plunger 130 may be actuated to move within the first chamber 120 ina first direction towards the distal end 112 of the body 102 and in asecond direction, opposite the first direction, towards the proximal end114, the movement being parallel to an axis A extending from the distalend 112 to the proximal end 114. In some embodiments, the firstdirection of movement may be in a different direction, for example,perpendicularly to the axis A.

In some embodiments, the plunger 130 may extend through the body 102such that a first portion of the plunger 130 is within the first chamber120 while a second portion is is external to the body 102. The plunger130 may include a handle 140 attached thereto. Referring to FIGS. 1-8,the handle 140 may be disposed on the portion of the plunger 130 that isexternal to the body 102.

The handle 140 may be configured to be gripped by a user and pulled orpushed. The handle 140 may be fixedly attached to the plunger 130, suchthat when the handle 140 is pushed or pulled, the plunger 130 moves inthe first or second direction, respectively, as described above. In analternative embodiment, the plunger 130 may move in the first or seconddirection when the handle 140 is pulled or pushed, respectively.

In some embodiments, the handle 140 may be configured to releasablysecure the plunger in a position within the first chamber such that theplunger does not move until it is released. Such a feature may beadvantageous in scenarios where it may be undesirable for the plunger tomove, for example during shipping or storage.

The handle 140 may further include a grip 146 configured to be contactedby a user's hand or finger. In some embodiments, the handle 140 mayinclude multiple grips 146 on opposing sides of the handle 140. Such agrip arrangement would provide better grasp of the handle and wouldreduce mishandling of the dispenser 100 due to a user's hand or fingerslipping when pushing or pulling the handle 140.

The dispenser 100 may include one or more valves configured to controlthe passage of fluid into or out of the first chamber 120. Referring toFIGS. 1-8, the dispenser 100 may include a first valve 122 disposed onor within the first opening 108. The first valve 122 may be a one-wayvalve configured to permit flow of a liquid in one direction and toresist the flow of the liquid in the opposite direction. In someembodiments, the first valve 122 may be configured to permit flow ofliquid through the first opening 108 into the first chamber 120 and toresist flow of liquid out of the first chamber.

The dispenser 100 may further include a second valve 124 disposed on orwithin the second opening 110. It will be understood that the secondvalve may be substantially the same as the first valve. The second valve124 may be a one-way valve configured to permit flow of a liquid in onedirection and to resist the flow of the liquid in the oppositedirection. In some embodiments, the second valve 124 may be configuredto permit flow of liquid through the second opening 110 out of the firstchamber 120. In some embodiments, the first opening 108 and the secondopening 110 are adjacent to each other. In some embodiments, the firstopening 108 may fluidly communicate with a source of liquid.

The valves 122,124 may be deformable valves having elastic propertiesand configured to change their shapes upon application of force and toreturn to their original non-deformed shape upon removal of the force.In some embodiments, the valves 122,124 may be ball valves, checkvalves, piston valves, flap valves, or other mechanical valves suitablefor operatively permitting or blocking passage of a fluid therethrough.

Referring to FIG. 6, the dispenser 100 is shown as the plunger 130 movesaway from the distal end 112. As the plunger 130 moves, the volume inthe first chamber 120 increases, resulting in a decrease in pressurewithin the first chamber 120. The first valve 122 may be an elasticallydeformable valve. As pressure within the first chamber 120 decreasesbelow a threshold low pressure, the first valve 122 may deform, thusun-obstructing the first opening 108 and permitting fluid to enter thefirst chamber 120. When pressure within the first chamber 120 risesabove the threshold low pressure, the first valve 122 returns to itsun-deformed state such that the first opening 108 is obstructed by thefirst valve 122 and fluid cannot flow through the first opening 108.

FIG. 7 shows the dispenser 100 as the plunger 130 moves toward thedistal end 112. As the plunger 130 moves, the volume in the pressure inthe first chamber 120 decreases, and the second valve 124 mayelastically deform in a similar manner to the first valve 122 describedabove to allow the fluid to leave the first chamber 120. As pressurewithin the first chamber 120 increases above a threshold high pressure,the deformation of the second valve 124 un-obstructs the second opening110 and permits the fluid to flow therethrough. The fluid may then flowto a desired destination or into another chamber, for example, into theintermediate chamber 142. When pressure within the first chamber 120drops below the threshold high pressure, the second valve 124 returns toits un-deformed state such that the second opening 110 is obstructed bythe second valve 124 and fluid cannot flow through the second opening110.

The dispenser 100 as described in the embodiments throughout thisapplication may be used for movement of a fluid, for example a liquid,from a source to a desired destination. While this disclosure is notintended to be limited by the specific liquids being dispensed, examplesof suitable fluids include low-viscosity liquids, such as water, wine,juice, carbonated beverages, and combinations of the above, andhigh-viscosity solutions, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, or othercondiments or dipping sauces.

In operation, the plunger 130 may be actuated to cause the desired fluidto move into the dispenser 100 from a fluid source and to move the fluidwithin the dispenser 100 to a desired destination, for example a cup,plate, bottle, or another suitable reservoir for the particularsubstance being dispensed.

When actuated, the plunger 130 may move a liquid within the firstchamber 120 in the direction of one or more openings, for example,toward second opening 110. The dispenser 100 may include a filling mode,in which fluid is moved into the first chamber 120, and a dispensingmode, in which fluid is moved out of the first chamber 120. In thedispensing mode, the plunger 130 may be moved in the first directionsuch that pressure increases in the first chamber 120 and fluid is movedfrom the first chamber 120. In the filling mode, the plunger 130 may bemoved in the second direction opposite the first direction. Thismovement decreases pressure in the first chamber 120, resulting is fluidentering the first chamber 120.

It will be understood that the dispenser 100 and its components arescalable and may be dimensioned to fit desired applications and liquidsources. In some embodiments, the body 102 may be cylindrical. The body102 may be between about 0.5 inches to about 6 inches in length, betweenabout 1 inches and about 4 inches, or between about 2 inches and about 3inches. The diameter of the body 102 may be between about 0.25 inchesand about 3 inches, between about 0.75 inches and about 2 inches, andbetween about 1 inches and about 1.5 inches. In some exemplaryembodiments, the body 102 may be about 2.1 inches in length and about1.13 inches in diameter.

The dispenser 100 may be dimensioned within the above-described ranges.In an exemplary embodiment, the dispenser (spanning from the distal end112 to the handle 140) may be about 2.5 inches. It will be understoodthat the specific sizes may vary depending on the desired application.

The dispenser 100 may be a part of a system 200. The system 200 mayinclude a source of fluid 202 and one or more dispensers 100 configuredto move at least a portion of the fluid from the source of fluid 202into, through, and out of each dispenser 100. In some embodiments, thesystem 200 may include one or more attachments to facilitate movement offluid into the dispenser 100, such as a rigid or a flexible tube fluidlyconnecting the first opening 108 of the dispenser 100 with the source offluid 202. In some embodiments, the system 200 may include one or moreattachments to facilitate movement of fluid from the dispenser 100 to adesired destination, such as a rigid or flexible tube, a spout, or anintermediate chamber 142 that may fluidly connect a first dispenser 100with a second dispenser 100. The one or more attachments may beremovably coupleable with the dispenser 100 and/or the source of fluid202. In some embodiments, the system 200 may include a plurality ofinterchangeable attachments that may be coupled or removed to componentsof the system 200 based on operational necessity or user preference.

This disclosure is not limited to any particular source of fluid 202,and it will be understood that the system 200 may include various typesand quantities of sources of fluid 202. Examples of suitable sources offluid 202 include, but are not limited to, bags, boxes, pouches,cartons, jugs, bowls, barrels, canister, and other suitable containerfor receiving, holding, transporting, and/or distributing a fluid. Insome embodiments, the source of fluid 202 may include one or morecomponents of the system 200, for example, a dispenser 100.

It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the dispenser 100 andthe system 200 are covered by this disclosure. In some embodiments, thearrangement of the components described throughout this specificationmay differ, for example, being disposed on at a different portion of thedispenser.

It will be understood that referenced components may include the samefeatures as similarly-named components described throughout thisdisclosure. In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 may include a firstopening 108 through which a fluid may enter the first chamber 120 and asecond opening 110 through which the fluid may exit the chamber 120. Thefirst opening 108 may include a first valve 122. The second opening 110may include a second valve 124. The first valve 122 and the second valve124 may include an elastically deformable portion configured to deformor deflect upon application of a suitable force. The dispenser 100 mayfurther include a plunger 130 having a plunger head 132.

In some aspects, the plunger head 132 may include one or more plungeropenings extending through the plunger head 132. The dispenser 100 mayinclude an intermediate chamber 142. In some embodiments, theintermediate chamber 142 and the first chamber 120 may be separated bythe plunger head 132, such that the first chamber 120 and theintermediate chamber 142 fluidly communicate with each other via theplunger openings extending through the plunger head 132. The plungerhead 132 may further include a plunger valve. The plunger valve may be aone-way valve and may be substantially similar to the first and secondvalves 122,124 described herein. The plunger head 132 may have aplurality of plunger valves, for example, a plunger valve being disposedin or adjacent to each plunger opening. The plunger valve is configuredto open when a sufficient force gradient is applied in one direction onthe plunger head 132 and to close when the force gradient is applied ina second direction opposite the first direction.

In operation, fluid may be introduced into the first chamber 120 throughthe first opening 108 and the first valve 122 by moving the plunger 130in a filling direction. When fluid is present within the first chamber120, the plunger 130 may be moved in a dispensing direction opposite thefilling direction. When sufficient pressure has built up in the firstchamber 120 during this movement, the plunger valves may open, and thefluid may move through the plunger openings from the first chamber 120to the intermediate chamber 142. As the fluid is within the intermediatechamber, the plunger 130 may be moved again in the filling direction.This causes fluid to again enter the first chamber 120 through the firstopening 108. Pressure in the intermediate chamber 142 increases duringthis movement, the second valve 124 opens, and the fluid within theintermediate chamber 142 moves through the second opening 110 out of thedispenser 300. In some embodiments, the dispenser 300 may furtherinclude a handle 140 fixedly attached to the plunger 130.

In some embodiments, the dispenser may include a locking component forpreventing the dispenser from being actuated. This may be advantageousfor when the dispenser is being stored, shipped, or connected to fluidsources and/or destination in order to prevent damage to the componentsof the dispenser or to prevent premature or inadvertent dispensing offluid. Referring to FIG. 1, for example, a locking protrusion 148 mayextend from the body 102 and may be configured to engage with a lockingreceptacle 149 disposed on the handle 140. When the locking protrusion148 is engage with the locking receptacle 149, the handle 140 isprevented from being moved to induce fluid flow through the dispenser100. It will be understood that other locking methods are suitable.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with the variousembodiments of the various figures, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodimentsdescribed above without departing from the broad inventive conceptthereof. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is notlimited to the particular embodiments disclosed, and it is intended tocover modifications within the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure as defined by the claims.

When values are expressed as approximations by use of the antecedent“about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms anotherembodiment. In general, use of the term “about” indicates approximationsthat can vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtainedby the disclosed subject matter and is to be interpreted in the specificcontext in which it is used, based on its function, and the personskilled in the art will be able to interpret it as such. In some cases,the number of significant figures used for a particular value may be onenon-limiting method of determining the extent of the word “about.” Inother cases, the gradations used in a series of values may be used todetermine the intended range available to the term “about” for eachvalue. Where present, all ranges are inclusive and combinable. That is,reference to values stated in ranges includes each and every valuewithin that range.

When a list is presented, unless stated otherwise, it is to beunderstood that each individual element of that list, and everycombination of that list, is a separate embodiment. For example, a listof embodiments presented as “A, B, or C” is to be interpreted asincluding the embodiments, “A,” “B,” “C,” “A or B,” “A or C,” “B or C,”or “A, B, or C.”

Throughout this specification, words are to be afforded their normalmeaning as would be understood by those skilled in the relevant art.However, so as to avoid misunderstanding, the meanings of certain termshas been specifically defined or clarified.

What is claimed:
 1. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid, the dispensercomprising: a body having an exterior surface and an interior surfacedefining a first chamber; a first opening extending through the bodybetween the exterior surface and the interior surface, the first openingbeing in fluid communication with the first chamber; a second openingextending through the body between the exterior surface and the interiorsurface, the second opening being in fluid communication with the firstchamber; a first valve disposed on the body, the first valve having aclosed configuration and an open configuration; a second valve disposedon the body, the second valve having a closed configuration and an openconfiguration; an actuator disposed at least partially within the firstchamber, the actuator configured to operatively increase and decreasepressure in the first chamber such that the first valve and the secondvalve change from their respective closed configurations to theirrespective open configurations and from their respective openconfigurations to their respective closed configurations; and a secondchamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein when thefirst valve is in the closed configuration, the first opening issubstantially impeded such that fluid does not pass through the firstopening, and when the first valve is in the open configurations, thefirst opening is substantially unimpeded such that the fluid can passthrough the first opening, wherein when the second valve is in theclosed configuration, the second opening is substantially impeded suchthat fluid does not pass through the second opening, and when the secondvalve is in the open configurations, the second opening is substantiallyunimpeded such that the fluid can pass through the second opening. 2.The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a handle operativelyconnected to the actuator, the handle configured to convey a pushingforce on the actuator in a first direction toward a distal end of thebody and a pulling force on the actuator in a second direction oppositethe first direction toward a proximal end of the body.
 3. The dispenserof claim 1, wherein the actuator is a plunger having a plunger head,wherein the plunger head slidably contacts the interior surface of thebody.
 4. The dispenser of claim 3, further comprising a sealing memberdisposed adjacent the plunger head and the interior surface of the body,the sealing member being configured to prevent the fluid from movingpast the sealing member.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the firstvalve and the second valve include an elastically deformable elementconfigured to deform in the application of a pressure greater than athreshold deformation pressure, and further configured to return to itsun-deformed state upon such a decrease of applied pressure below thethreshold deformation pressure.
 6. The dispenser of claim 5, whereinwhen the deformable element of the first and second valves is in thedeformed state, the first and second openings, respectively, areunimpeded such that fluid can flow therethrough, and when the deformableelement is in the un-deformed state, the first and second openings areimpeded such that fluid cannot flow therethrough.
 7. The dispenser ofclaim 1, further comprising a spring element configured to bias theactuator in a first direction toward a distal end of the body or in asecond direction opposite the first direction toward a proximal end ofthe body.
 8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the spring element is ahelical spring.